Cui Ruzhuo [Photo provided to China Daily]

Chinese ink painter Cui Ruzhuo, 72, recently became an honorable adviser at the Beijing-based Palace Museum's research institute. He is the second person to be honored following Jao Tsung-i, 99, a scholar of Chinese studies based in Hong Kong.

He was also designated the director of a Chinese ink painting research center affiliated to the institute. The newly founded center focuses on studying and promoting the art of traditional Chinese painting.

Cui held a solo exhibition at the Palace Museum from February to May and also made a donation of 100 million yuan ($15 million) to the museum for the preservation of its cultural legacies.

The Palace Museum established a research institute in 2013 as a way to boost the protection of antiques and raise people’s awareness of the cultural heritage.